Regulator to control the fluid flow of a suction catheter



y 1967 J. c. HALLIGAN 3,319,628

REGULATOR TO CONTROL THE FLUID FLOW OF A SUCTION CATHETER Filed Feb. 5, 1964 IN VENTOR. J'A/VES (I #414 /6'4/V United States Patent Gfiflce 3,319,628

P at ent ed May 16, 1967 ulator for a suction catheter apparatus which includes in 3,319,628

combination a relatively elongated flexible tube having REGULATOR To CONTROL THE FLUID FLOW a regulator made of substantially rigid plastic material James C gg gggfi to Becton and adapted to be removably connected between a Dickinson and ompany huthford! N J a comm vacuum source and one end of the .plastlc tube. The

ration of New Jersey regulator includes a first tubular member which is re- Filed Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 342,146 movably connected to the vacuum source and plastic 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-276) tube and a second tubular member formed integrally with the first tubular member so that the bore of the This invention relates to a regulator for suction second tubular member communicates with the bore of catheters and more particularly, to an improved regthe first tubular member. At the outer end of the second ulator adapted to be used in combination with a suction tubular member is a finger engaging means whereby the catheter apparatus in which the fluid flow therefluid flow through the first tubular member is controlled through is controlled by regulating the flow of a second by regulating the flow of a second fluid through the bore fluid therethrough. of the second tubular member.

Suction catheters generally employed for suctioning of Other advantages will become more apparent by the the tracheal, bronchial, oral or nasal passages, do not following description and illustrative drawings in which: have adequate means for controlled suction. Catheters FIG. 1 is a pers ective view of the regulating means of this type have many disadvantages and many difliculand flexible tube attached thereto;

ties are encountered when using them to aspirate fluid FIG. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the from a body cavity. When a catheter is inserted into a lines of 22 of FIG. 1;

body cavity, to be aspirated, it is generally pinched off FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines by a clamping means. When the catheteris in position of 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

to aspirate, suction is applied to the catheter and th FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines of body fluid is aspirated by releasing the clamping means 4 4 of FIG. 2.

which results in a sudden surge of fluid being drawn Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 2, therethrough. This causes high impact to the surroundmy improved regulator for controlling fluid flow in a ing tissue which may result in a very crude type of suction catheter is generally designated by numeral 10.

biopsy which irritates the surrounding tissue. Moreover, The regulator is preferably formed of nylon, although the aspirated fluid is contaminated with cellular debris other plastics having rigid properties may be used. The making clinical tests diflicult. Further, after repeated plastic material should be of the type which is inert to aspirations, a drying of the tissue surrounding the distal the fluids being collected. Regulator 10 comprises a end of the catheter will result, and in some instances, longitudinally extending conduit tubular member 14 actually denudes the epithelial tissue. and is adapted to receive a flexible tubular member 16 Several means have been employed to control the obsuch as a suction catheter which fr-ictionally engages one jectionable sudden surge caused by the release of a pinch end of the tubular member 14 at 17 in a pressed fit. Tuclamp in a suction catheter device. Some devices employ bular member 14 is provided with ridges 18 so that an apertures in the catheter at its proximal end, and by holdair tight connection is insured. The distal end of tubular ing a finger or fingers over the apertures, a means is promember 16 is provided with a slotted opening 19 and vided for creating the necessary suction to aspirate. beveled end portion 20. These are generally referred to However, this has the disadvantage of collapsing th as a smooth whistle-tip and eyes. tube in which the fluid is carried, which would cause a At the opposite end of tubular member 14, a series of constriction and create a sudden increase in velocity of concentric ridges 21 is provided to frictionally engage the fluid. Further, the danger of contamination of the tubing 13 which is operably connected to a vacuum source fluid is greatly enhanced by placing the finger or fingers (not shown). The concentric ridges 21 are of increasing over the apertures in the tube. Another method using diameters so that a variety of sizes of tubing may be glass connections is subject to many disadvantages. B employed from the vacuum source. The tubing genfore use, the catheter assembly must be assembled and erally used to operably connect a catheter assembly may sterilized and after use must be disassembled, cleaned, be employed. The catheter tubing may be made of reassembled and re-sterilized. The glass is subject to polyvinyl or other suitable flexible plastic material which breakage during the assembly, disassembly and cleaning is not toxic to the patient or to parenteral fluids collected. process which requires time and labor costs. It is convenient to use a tubing which is translucent or II; is therefore an object of my invention to provide transparent as opposed to an opaque tubing, although an improved regulator for controlling the fluid flow an opaque tubing may be used. through a suction catheter by providing a means for reg- A second tubular member or control tube 22 is formed ulating the flow of a second fluid therethrough. integral with tubular member 14 so that bore 23 of Another object of my invention is to provide a regtubular member 22 is in communication with bore 15 of ulator which is made of a substantially rigid plastic matubular member 14. A flanged portion 24 is integral terial, which does not collapse when pressure is appli d with tubular member 22 at its distal end and comprises thereto and which will t contaminate he fluids being a concave surface 25 extending inwardly from the outer aspirated by the suction applied thereto. A further obportion of flange 24 and approximately at its mid-point, ject of my invention is to provide a regulator for a a second concave surface 26 is formed which comsuction catheter apparatus in which said assembly is dismunicates with bore 23 of tubular member 22. The posable. flanged surfaces 25 and 26 are concavely designed to Still another object of my invention is to provide a receive a finger of the operator to regulate and control regulator for a suction catheter apparatus which is easily the suction. and inexpensively manufactured, which is an integral art When using my improved regulator 10, the flexible tubuof the assembly thus eliminating assembling the apparatus lar member 16 is placed into either the oral, nasal, tracheal when used, and in which the regulating means is easily or bronchial passageways of a patient from which fluid is manipulated. to be aspirated. A suitable vacuum source is operably Generally, my invention contemplates providing a regconnected to one end of the tubular member 14 so that it ,ly covered by the finger, -a partial vacuum is produced and fluid aspirated will flow through the apparatus slowly thereby causing substantially no irritation to the tissues due to suction impact. Thereafter, closure by full pressure of the finger over bore 23 may be employed to in-. crease the fluid flow from the body cavity by reducing the flow of the second fluid (air) through the regulator.

It has been found that suction applied in this manner,

even when at maximum flow of fluid through the catheter apparatus, substantially eliminates irritation of the surrounding tissue, thereby substantially reducing cellular debris therefrom.

It is obvious that many changes in design and materials may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

A suction catheter apparatus having improved regulating means for controlling the fluid flow and suction therethrough comprising a flexible plastic elongated catheter beveled at one end and having an opening formed adjacent said end, a regulator formed of a relatively rigid plastic material having a longitudinally extending conduit tube, the other end of said catheter being mounted in sealing engagement at one end of said conduit tube and the other end of said conduit tube adapted to be mounted to a source of suction so that material sucked through the catheter will be drawn through the conduit tube, an integrally formed control tube extending transversely from said conduit tube between the opposite ends and provided with an open outer end formed with a flanged finger engaging piece surrounding the opening, said finger engaging piece having a first concave surface extending inwardly from the outer portion of the flange to approximately the mid-point thereof and a second concave surface of greater angularity to the transverse axis of the finger piece than the first concave surface and extending inwardly from the first con cave surface so that the lower portion of said second concave surface communicates with the bore of said control tube whereby the regulation of air flow is controlled by varying the pressure applied by a finger on the finger engaging piece.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,715,899 8/1955 MacLean 128276 X 3,039,463 6/ 1962 Dickey et a1. 128276 3,039,469 6/ 1962 Fountain 128351 3,065,749 11/1962 Brass 12S276 X FOREIGN PATENTS 121,673 6/ 1927 Switzerland.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

DALTON L. TRULUCK, Examiner. 

